Balancing of reciprocating engines



June 16, 1925. H 1,542,254

.LANCHESTER BALANCING OF REGIPROCATIHG ENGINES Filed Nov. 18. 1924 Fig.2.

Patented June 16, 1925.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK WILLIAM LANCHESTER, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

BALANCING on RECIPROCATING ENGINES..

Application filed November 18,1924. Serial in. 750,049.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK WILLIAM LANCHESTER, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at Dyott End, Oxford Road, Moseley, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, England, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in the Balancing of Reciprocating Engines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invent-ion relates to the balancing of reciprocating engines and has for its object to provide an improved mechanical construction embodying the method of neutralizing the octave and if required the higher harmonic components of piston motion by reverse rotating balance weight running attwice or higher multiple of crank shaft speed.

The present invention consists in brief in harmonic balancing mechanism in which one or more pairs of reverse rotating balance weights are employed to neutralize the constitutional want of balancing of 'a reciprocating engine in a rotor comprising three parts in which the portions carryin the balance weights are mounted indepen portion by which the rotor is driven. I

The present inventionfurther consists in the s ecial constructions. and means of mountmg the rotor and driving mechanism for same as hereinafter described.

The application of the invention is illustrated by the acompanying sheet of drawings which are diagrammatic and in which like figures refer to like parts throughout Figure 1 shows in side elevation an arrangement in which the rotors driven by gearing ofl the crank shaft are adapted to be driven by screw gear teeth out in the crank shaft journals between cylinders 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 respectively, a five-bearing crank being shown; I

Figure 2 shows likewise in elevation an arrangement appropriate to an engine in which a three-bearing crank shaft is employed;

Figure 3 shows likewise in elevation an alternative in which the crank shaft is of a two-bearing variety and in which the rotors are arranged to be driven by teeth out in the end journals;

Fi re 4 is a transverse section of the cran case showing in lon 'tudinal section one of the rotors in which t e rotor consists Referring to the drawings, A is the crank shaft, A the screw gear teeth out in the crank shaft journal. B is the central or driven portion of the rotor element carrymg gear teeth B (Figures 4 and 8) ada ted to engage with the gear teeth A, and is the bearing provided in the crank case for gii rrymg the central portion of the rotor tor carried on the pin D which is housed in the crank case at E, E. The central port1on of the rotor is adapted to drive balance weights B, B, (Figures 4 and 6) the end portions of the rotor being formed with slots B. These slots may be open-ended and formed by milling deep grooves in the ends of the central portion of rotor B as shown or alternatively rectangular holes may be formed by broaching to receive the balance weights.

The balance weights are centered or journalled on pins D and thus do not give rise to radial forces on the central section of the rotor by which they are driven; the latter is also unaffected by any flexure of the pin D due to centrifugal force. Consequently the truth of the driving gear is not disturbed either by elastic yield or by wear.

Having now described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Harmonic balancing mechanism for a reciprocating engine including a pair of reverse rotating rotor elements eaoh comprising a driven portion and a pair of balance weights driven thereby but mounted independently thereof.

2. Harmonic balancing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driven portions of the rotor elements are mounted in journals and wherein said balance weights are mounted upon pins coaxial with the said journals.

3. Harmonic balancin mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotor ele- B, B are the end portions of the rosup orting said balance weights independent y of said journal bearings, and driving means between said balance weights and said 0 rotor element proper.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERICK WILLIAM LANCHES'I'ER. 

